Reversible regenerative furnace.



A. REYNOLDS.

REVERSlBLE REGENERATIVE FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED 0CT.IB,1912.

1 1 9 1 ,033. Patented July 11, 1916.

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A. REYNOLDS.

REVERSIBLE REGENERATIVE FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18, 1912. 1,191 ,033. Patented July 11, 1911;.

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A. REYNOLDS.

I REVERSIBLE REGENERATIVE FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I8. 1912.

iizusvzfoz' r/gz nazdis 5/ w zf lZzeese'sx 'A. REYNOLDS. REVERSIBLE REGENER ATIVE FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED 0011811912.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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REVERSIBLE REGENERAHVE FURNACE.

APPLICATION mm 001. 1a. m2.

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A. REYNOLDS. REVERSIBLE REGENERATIVE FURNACE.

APPLICATION HLED OCT. I8. Mug.

1 ,1 9 1 ,033. Patented July 11, 1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

. STATES PA ALLEYHE RIiiYNOLDS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

new and useful Improvements in Reversible Regenerative Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention-is to overcome eertaindefects inherent in the Ordinary Siemens reversible regenerative type of furnace and thereby render such furnaces capable of greater economy in working both as to fuel consumption and upkeep, and also make it possible to carry regeneration much further than usual. even to an extent involving the use' of mechanical draft. and to apply such furnaces to novel purposes.

'According to the present inventioii' the combustion of the. gas used for firing the furnace is effected in stages and the extent of the combustion accurately controlled in the several stages. combustion being initiated at two or nore of the following points, namely 1) after the gas and air leave the regeneratorson the inlet side and before.

they'enter the furnace, (2) upon the gas and air entering the furnace. and ('3) after the burnt and unburnt gases leave the furnaceand prior to or upon their entering the usual regenerative chambers upon the outlet side of the furnace.

The air required' for the complete (ombustion of the gas issupplied through a plurality of separate reversible. air regenerative systems, and the relative quantities delivered at different points of the furnace. teni are regulated by valves placed in a cool part of the system, so that the extent of the combustion of the gases can be accurately controlled at the several stages.

For the purposes contemplatial it is essen tial that the required air should be derived from separate air regenerative systems and also that the controlling valves should not be subjected to high temperatures. such as for example they would be subject to if posed to direct radiation from the furnace,

and these two essential features distinguish.

this invention from previous systems of heating furnaces of the Siemens type in which the burning of the comhusti'bie gases is eti'ected in more than one stage.

As contemplated by the present iinenti'ou ;1mvEnsmLn REGENERATIVE FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent;

} there may be preliminarycombustion with? or ports and thereby heat up'the remainderv of the unconsu'med gas or air before its do livery t0 the furnace proper, or. there may be a completion of combustion of the furnace gases within the outlet por'ts .or'regenerator I Patented July 11, 191 Application filed OctobetlB, 1912. Serial No. 726,528.

chambers by the introduction thereto of a.

quantity of air, which should he ate. 00,111: paratively low temperature so as not to give rise to unduly high temperatures within the regenerator structure. Y r

To enable me to work the modified reversible regenerative furnace: in the. .manner jabove indicated I subd vide either or both of the usual 'gas and air regenerative-sys 'tenis into two definite-and unequal portions,

the larger of which will bra-hereinafter re ferred to as the usual or main system and 'the smaller as the auxiliary systeinz-fEach.

system is provided with a reversing valve and regulating valve arrangement of a ny suitable known type and also with dampers or'i'alves whereby the relative amounts of waste gases passing through the various regenerator chambers can be controlled,-. such' valves being pla ed in'a cool part of the system and not 'constitut ng in" any sense part of the furnace ports, so that .theyjmay remain effective for controlling,accurately= the proportions of air (or gas) admitted at the several points.

Figure l is a top plan apparatus: Fig 2 is a vertical crosssection taken on line 2+2 of Fig.1;Fig. is a ver tiral cross-section taken'on line 3-301 Fi 1: Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the entire apparatus taken on line 4% of l igi 1; Fig. 5 is aihorizonta l sec? tioual vie \v of the entire apparatus taken substantially on line 5 is a horizontal vsectional view taken on line view' of .the entire I (3'(i-of Fig. i and illustrating the arrange ment of the subterranean conduits or ducts for coinmunii-ati ig the various chambers and reversing valves of the apparatus; Fig. i is a fraguwntary vertical sectional view taken substantially on 'line 7-7 of Figs. 5 and (3 and also illustrating the arrangement f (he subterranean conduits; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention, as shown in section, for a clear understanding thereof; Fig. 9 is a front end sectional view taken substantially on line 99 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 1s a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the entire modified form of the apparatus taken on line 1010 of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 1111 of Fig. 8; and Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line '1212 of Fig. 9 and diagrammatically illustrates the relation and arrangement of the subterranean conduits relative to the various chambers of the apparatus; Fig. 13 is an enlarged. detail sectional view taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 8 and illustrates the construction of the reversing valves referred to throughout the specification and the manner in which they control the passage of air and gas through the various ducts.

lating the auxiliary air and gas supplies the bulk of gas and air entering the furnace can,

by'a regulated amount of combustion ,with

in the inlet ports, be brought to as ,higl'r'a temperature as could be obtained through overheating the main regenerators, while radiation losses and cost of repairs are considerably reduced by confining the very high temperature to a comparatively small part of the furnace structure. In this arrangement, the combustion or working chamber 1 of the furnace is provided with the gas ports 2 and 2 at opposite ends of the chainber, and air port r 3, 3 and 3, 3, also arranged at opposite ends of the chamber: Auxiliary air ports 5, 5" and 5, 5 lead, re spectively, into the gas ports 2 and 2 in such manner that the combustion may be caused to take place in the ports before the gas reaches the furnace chamber 1. .Ducts 4 and 4 connect the gas supply ducts 22,

20 and 21 (see Figs. 1, 2, 4 and leading. from suitable gas producers. with the gas inlet ports 2 and 2, respectively, a reversing valve 8 being provided at the junction 9 of the gas duct 22 with the ducts 4 arid 4 sofas to direct the gas into one or the other of the ducts 4 or 4 as desired. A regulating valve 10 is also provided to controlthe amount of gas passing from the duct 22 into either of the ducts 4 or 4. Main air regenerator chambers 6, 6 and 6, 6 are arranged. conveniently with regard to the furnace (as shown, in Figs. 4 and 5 they are placed underneath the furnace working chamber 1), respectively, with the two sets of main air inlets 3, 3 and 3, 3 (see Fig. 4). Auxiliary air regenerator chambers 7, 7 and 72-7 (clearly shown in Fig. 5 adjacent to the main air regenerator chambers) .trolled by the valve 24.

in the same manner by the ducts 12 and 12 with the primary auxiliary air recuperators 7, 7 and 7, 7. Ports or passages 25 connect the recuperators 17 and 17 and 16 and 16", 16 and 16, 17 and 17at their upper portionsi The ducts 18 and 18, clearly shown in Figs. 5, G and 7, connect the recuperators 16 and 16", respectively, with the main air supply duct 31, the in-take of which is con- The reversing valve 13 arranged in the duct 31 is disposed to control the direction of.fiow of fluid from the valve 24 through either of the ducts 18 and 18, depending upon .the

position of said valve; and, also, from the hitter ducts to the waste gas outlet chamber 14. The arrangement of thereversing valve 13 may be of any suitable construction so that when the air is entering on one sideof the valve to one series of recuperators and regenerators, ,the hot air ga es are exhausted from the other series of recuperators and regenerators on the other side of the valve; a'nd,', such reversing valves as hereinafter referred to, preferably comprise the construction and arrafhgement, relative to their associated-ducts, as shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings.

The ducts 19 and 19 (Figs. 5 and 6) connect the auxiliary air recuperators 17 and 17"" with the auxiliary air supply'valve 23 controlling the air admission to the duct 32 The reversing valve 15, in this instance, likewise controls the direction of flow of fluid from the valve 23 through either one of the ducts 19 or 19, and also from the latter to'the waste gas outlet chamber 14, in a similar manner to that of the valve 13. The duct 30 connects the ducts 31 and 32 with the outlet chamber 14, as is clear from Fig. 4, and dampers 28 and 29 are provided therein for regulating the amount of wastegases passing from the ducts to said chamber. to drive the fan 27 for exhausting the gas from the outlet chamber 14 (Figs. 1 and 4)- The course of the gases is as followsi When the furnace is, for the time being, worked, so that the flame travels from right to left in the working chamber gas from the producers passes along the ducts 21 and 20 through the tube 22 past theregulating valve 10 and tg thvpcsition of Secondary auxiliary air re- 'The motor 26 is provided the reversing valve 8 shown in 2 and 5 through the tube 4 to the gas port 2 of the furnace. The main air suppiy passes the regulating valve 24 and enters the duct 31 and according to the position of the reversing valve 13 along the flue 18 and upward through the cool rccu 'ierator cham-.

ber 16. the recuperators of which may be, and are shown as being cast iron plates. It then passes through ports 25 and down through the brickwork recuperators in chamber 16 into and through the fine 11. and thence upward through the main air regenerator chambers and 3. and pipes or ducts 3 and 3 into the. chamber 1. Auxiliary air correspondingly passes the regulating valve and enters the air duct flu, and according to the position of the re versing valve 15 moves through the flue 19. upward through cooi chamber 1T through the. ports 25 down through chamber 17 along flue 12 and up through chambers 7 and 7 into tines 5 and ."r' and into gas port 2* in such wise and such quantity that the partial combustion of the gas therein produces adequate temperature in the ases entering the furnace chamber 1. The amount of air passed through the air chambers to the gas port is so regulated that the gas entering the chamber 1 at a sutficiently high temperature. and the amount of waste gases passing through the respective acting air regenerative and recuperator chambers into circulation and on the opposite side of the furnace from those delivering air to the chamber 1 is regulated by means of the dampers 28 and 2.

The waste gases from the working chamher 1 of the furnace. will. in the present described circulation, pass through the gas and air ports 3 and 3*, I; and 5 into the air regenerator and rccupcrator chambers (i, 6". 7, 7, 16", 1?". 1G and 17 to the ducts l8 and 19 which are in C(')llllllllIlltliltll] with the ducts 31 and 32, respectively. According to the position of the reversing valves 13 and 15 in the. above described circulatioi'i, the waste gases will pass from the ducts ill and 32 into the waste gas exhaust duct iii) and thence to the waste gas xhaust cham ber 14 where it is exhausted to the atmosphere by the fan 27. It will be noted that in the present circulation the air being admitted to the furnace chamber 1 passes into the ducts 31 and 32 on one side of the reversing valves 13 and 15 and that the waste gases are directed to the exhaust chamber 14 by the other side of said valves.

In the modified type of furnace illustrated in Figs. 8 to 13 adapted to work with a reducing atmosphere in the furnace, an air reversing valve system of the three-way type and llue connections of a suitable nature are provided whereby cold or slightly heated air can be introduced into the main rcgenerators traversed by the waste gases so as to complete the combustion of the same without raising the temperature within the regenerators to too high a value. In this arrangement, the working or charge heating chamber 51 is provided with the gas ports 52 and 52 at the opposite ends of the furnace connected by means of the ducts 51 and 54*. respectively, with the gas re-- generator chambers In; and 56. ()ppositely arranged air ports 53 and 53 are also provided connected by the ducts 5.") and 55, respectively. with tl. air rcgencrator chambers .37 and 57. respectively.

The ducts 59 and 5 cbnncct the air regeneiator chambers 57 and 37. rcsl'iectively, with the main air duct fill. air supply duct (39 and the waste gas exhaust duct (32. The air supplied from the duct of to the duct 90 is controlled by a suitably operated valve 71 and the direction of travel of the air from the duct ii!) to either of the ducts 55 or 5!) is controlled by the position of the reversing valve (3?. preferably of the butterfly type. as shown in Fig. l3. The reversing valve 35. also. directs the passage of the exhaust gas from either of the ducts 59 or 59 to the duct. '32 according to the position of the valve and the direction o'i'fcircnlation in the turnace.

The ducts 6t) and 'l. which are the sul terranean contiiuuitioiis of the air passage 3 and 5. rcs 'icctivcly. clean; shown in Fig. 11. have connection with the duct 91 containing the reversing valve 43 nd having connection with tl air supply duct (3!). The valve 56 directs the air frcin the duct 69 to either of the ducts (i or (31). accord ing to.its position. the air supplied to the duct )1 from the duct (35) being controlled by a suitably operated valve iii. The air passages 58 and 58 have. communication with the chambers 56, ii? and 5 and 7', respectively. through the. ports 92, 93 and 92. 93. as shown in Fig. 11.

The ducts 3 and i connect the gas regencrator chan'lbers 5t; and .36". respectively, with the duct. 94 having furth r nnection with the duct Ti? which. in turn. has a, valve connei lion T with the gas supply duct (33. The low er end of the duct 9% opens into the waste gas exhaust duct (12 and contains a reversing valv (38 controlling the direction of travel of the gas supplied from the duct ('12; to either of the ducts GP. and (38 and the (low of the waste gases from either of the latter ducts to the waste gas exhaust duet (l2. lletwccn the fuel or gas supply duct (33 and th aste gas duct (iii is provided a ypass it pr vided with a cock. see Fig. 10. by means or" which a small quantity of fuel gas may be led into and ignited n a small air flue 70" so that. the alv'age of gas through the valve 63 on rape ea} or otherwise may be ignited.

The secondary regenerators and recuperato' c4 and 61 are connected by ducts 61 and 61", respectively, with the hot air and waste gas reversing chamber 95 having the reversing valve 67 disposed therein (Figs. 8 and 9). The valve 67 is adapted to direct the flow of hot air from either of the recuperators 64 and 64, and the flow of waste gas from the waste gas duct 62 to either of said recuperators, according to the direction of circulation in the furnace and the position of said valve.

The cold air enters one and the cold waste gases exhaust from the other of the recuperators 64 and 64 by means of the reversing valve 74, a fan being preferably provided to force the air through one of the recuperators and the suction fan 76 being provided to exhaust the waste gases from the other of said recuperators. The waste gases from the waste gas chamber 95 enter either of the ducts 61 or 61, according to the position of the valve 67, and flow to one of the recuperators where the gases pass upward through a brickwork flue 77, then under lid or cover 78 down the divided annular flue and by means of openings at the "bottom upward again through corresponding flues 81, and downward through corresponding flues '82 in which flanged or ribbed plates 82 of metal are placed (Fig. 12). The brickwork of the outer wall of 'fiue 82 is metal cased, and by means of openings the waste gases finally issue between this metal casing and the outer casing 83 of the recuperator and pass upward to the duct 96. from which it is exhausted to the atmosphere by the suction fan 76. A lid 79 closes the metal casing of the recuperator.

The furnace is so worked that supposing the flame to be traveling from right to left in the furnace, as shown in the drawings, the following are the courses of the air. gas, and waste gases. Gas from flue 63 passes regulating valve 73, tube 70, reversing valve 68, flue 68, regenerator chamber 36. flue 54", and enters the working chamber 51 by port 52 where it is ignited. Air is forced through recuperator 64 by the force fan 75, through duct 61, through reversing" valve 67 into duct 69. A portion of this air passes regulating valve 71 and reversing valve 65 along duct 59, up through chamber 57, flues 55, to the air port 53, where it ignites the gas from port 52. Partially burnt waste gases pass through ports 52 and 53, and flues 54 and 55 into regenerator chambers 56 and 57 where they are supplied with the balance of the warmed air and the. r combustion is completed. This warmed air has taken the following course :-From duct 69 it has assed valve 72 and reversing valve 66 and through the duct 60 to the assagc 58, leading into chambers 56 afid 5 there meeting the products of partial combustion I as to direct the of the furnace, and completing same. The waste gases, (now those of complete combustionipass along ducts 59 and 68 t0 the ducts and "'4, thence by the reversing valves 65 and 68, according to their positions, as indicated in Fig. 13, into the act 62. From the duct 62 the waste gasesiass upwardly into the chamber and then by the reversing valve 67 which is so positioned ases into the duct 61 to the recuperator 64 rom which it is exhausted to the atmosphere by the suction fan 76. It is to be understood that by reversing the position of the valve 74 and the reversing valves-65, 66 and 68 correspondingly, the circulation of air through the furnace may be reversed.

Having thus described my said invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent1- 1. In a gas-fired reversible regenerative furnace, wherein combustion of the gas is effected in more than one stage, comprising, a working furnace chamber, a regcnerator system for the air connected with the air ports opening into said chamber, regulating and reversing valves controlling the supply of air and gas to the air and gas ports and situated in a cool part of the furnace, a separate auxiliary reversible regenerator system for air communicating with the main air and gas regenerator system at points outside of said chamber, and regulating and reversing valves controlling the gases traversing the auxiliary regenerator system and situated in a cool part of the furnace, substantially as described,

2. A gas-fired reversible re enerative furnace wherein combustion of tiie gas is effect ed in more than one stage, comprising, a working furnace chamber, regenerator systems ior air and gas connected with air and gas ports opening into said chamber, regulating and reversing valves controlling the supply of air and gas and situated in a cool part of the furnace, a separate auxiliary reversible regenerator system communicating with the main air and gas system at a poini' outside said chamber, and regulating am reversinfi valves controlling the gases traversing auxiliary regenerator system and situated in a cool part of the furnace, substantially as described.

A gas-fired reversible regenerative furnace wherein combustion of the gas is effected in more than one stage, comprising, a. working furnace chamber, regenerator sys tems for air and gas connected with air and gas ports opening into said chamber, regulating and reversing valves controlling the supply of air and gas and situated in a cool part of the furnace, a separate auxillar reversible air regenerator system communieating with the main gas system at a point outside said chamber, and regulating and w ves run-trolling the nai auxilr regenerate! eysetnm, sziiz'istammlly as i {{Miire eversible reneneretive fun herein 1 mm or the gas is etl'ectone stow, mn'znrising a chamber regrne: or 5 y r conneetml h air 11ml viii into will :hmnlmr reguw-rsingg; valves rontrolling the min gas and situat -l in a vool 'HUINH'R ti s parate nnxilinr v re s ivgmerntoz' system crnnmuniin ms ports lending iron; the monitor sezl'i-ni to man! chain- 11;; (m l l'P PB'Hl rulvw conl mixiiisry a? re renerntor 'ii't'ih 1 gm, vonnertwl Willi tl-ion and gas ports opening into said chamber, regulating and reversing valves controlling the supply of air and gas and situated in i}, cool part of the furnace, said generator systems comprising a plurality of sets of spaced air and gas chambers and a duct hetween the air and gas chambers of each set,

said duct communicating with the air and gas chambers whereby comparatively cool air may, without substantially raising the ten'iprrutnre, be diverted into the air and gas generator systems at a point at which hot gas enters the latter, and reversing \iilves situated in a cool part of the furnace for controlling the passage of fluid through the ducts.

In testin'iony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ALLEYNE REYNOLDS.

L. B. Bnooinxn, Lr'rmlr. J. Plum. 

